An Inverness man was arrested Wednesday after two women accused him of raping them when they were children.

Special to the Chronicle

Joshua Allender

Joshua Allender, now 35, is facing charges of sexual battery on a person under 12, sexual battery on a person under 18 and sexual battery on a person 12 or older using force.

His accusers, now 20 and 22 years old, told investigators Allender forcefully had sex with them. One of the women said Allender attempted to have sex with her when she was 9 years old, and Allender gave her Xanax on a regular basis, she reported. She alleged he started giving her alcohol when she was 11 and he began molesting and raping her “too many times to count.” She said she was too afraid to report the abuse.

Allender denied raping her but told an investigator he took drugs and drank alcohol around that time.

The other accuser told authorities she was 15 years old when Allender, then 28, raped her. She said she had been at his house and woke up to Allender raping her. The victim said she, Allender and a witness had been drinking and taking Xanax. She claimed Allender choked her when she attempted to stop him. Allender said he had sex with the alleged victim one time, according to a report.

Allender was taken to the Citrus County Detention Facility and held without bond.